Crimping and plaiting machine



c. A. BREWER.

CRIMPING AND PLAITING MACHINE- APPLICATION flLED APR.-26, 1920.

1,361,959. Patented Dec.14,1920.v

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C. A. BREWER. CRIMPING AND PLAITING MACHINE.

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c. A. BREWER.

CRIMPING AND PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920.

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CRIMPING AND PLAITINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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CRIMPING AND PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR; 26, 1920. 1,361,959.

Patented D60. 14, 1920..

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APPLICATION FILED APII. 26, 1920- 1,361,959, Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

C. A. BREW-ER. CRIMPING AND PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26, 1920.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 25, 1920- 1,361,959, Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

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C. A. BREWER. CRIMPING AND PLAITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1920.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. BREWER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES A. BREWER & SONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF CHARLES A. BREWER, vNELSON C. BREWER, KENNETH E. BREWER, AND EVERETT R. BREWER.

CRIMPING AND PLAITING- MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed April 26, 1920. Serial No. 376,793.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. BREWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crimping and Plaiting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for effecting crimping and plaiting operations on paper strips and sheets. The machine has been designed more particularly for folding and compressing paper strips into a form suitable to be severed into short sections and loaded into sales boards either manually or by means of a machine such as that disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,339,595, dated May 11, 1920; but the machine is well adapted for the making of accordion plaited paper for other purposes and uses.

Where solid or imperforate paper strips are plaited and then severed into short sections and loaded into a sales board by machine operations, it is essential to the successful severing and loading operations that the strip, when plaited, shall be thoroughly set so as to retain its snugly folded and compacted condition; and the leading object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will so operate upon the paper stock fed thereto as to produce a product of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of superior efliciency and reliability of operation, and one which will eiiect the required operations upon the thin fragile material without injury or deformation, and avoiding waste of time and material through imperfect operation.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of this character, means for controlling the paper strip during. its passage from the point at which it is fed to the machine by the operative to the field of operation of the crimping elements.

Another object is to provide an improved heating device or oven wherein a complete set of strips for a sales board may be collected and heated for a period of time sulficient to fully set the strips; and a still further object is to provide a heater or oven of this character capable of simultaneously releasing and discharging a set of strips accumulated therein.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those familiar with machines of this general character" from the following detailed description, taken in connection with. the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one practical and approved embodiment of the invention, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are vertical longitudinal sections illustrating successive relative positions of the moving parts which effect the feeding, controlling, crimping, and heating and compacting of the stock;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view more clearly illustrating'the compressing or compacting of the plaited strip between the crimping rolls and the oven;

Fig. 6 is an-enlarged sectional view in the vertical plane of the axes of the crimping rolls, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5:,

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the frame and bed-plate and the upper and lower reciprocating feed devices, the samebeing taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5;

' Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5, directly in front of the strip-controlling devices and the crimping rolls;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 5 just in the rear of the crimping rolls;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section takenon the offset vertical line 1010 of Fig. 5;

Figs. 11 and 12 are vertical sections taken on the line 11-9-11 of Fig. 2, 'and showing, in side elevation, a cam which effects the clamping movement of a finger-bar or comb by which the strips are knocked down and held flat as they are pushed into the field of action of the crimping'rolls;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the *line 13-13 of Fig. 2;

. 14 is a sectional detail taken on the line 14;-14: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken on the line 15-15 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail through the bearing spindles of the crimping rolls taken on the line 1616 of Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 17 is a perspective elevation of the plaited and compacted strip constituting the product of the machine.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates as an entirety a substantially rectangular upright supporting frame, between the opposite sides of which is secured, by screws 2, a bed-block 3 (Figs. 5, 7, and 8), the upper surface of which is grooved lengthwise of the machine to receive a series of parallel rails 4 fitted in the grooves and projected slightly above the surface of the bed-block 3.

On opposite sides of the machine frame are vertical frame extensions 5 (Figs. 6 and 16) forming guides and supports for the journal bearings of upper and lower crimping or plaiting rolls 6 and 7 respectively. These rolls are formed with equally spaced registering annular grooves 8 and 9, respectively, as. clearly shown in Fig. 6; and, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, the rolls are formed on their peripheries with toothed segments 10 and 11, respectively, which intermesh with each other once during each complete revolution of-the rolls to effect the crimping operation on a paper strip passing between them.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, on each side of the machine frame, at the upper portion of the latter, there are provided horizontal extensions 12 on the feed side of the'machine and similar horizontal extensions 13 on the delivery side, these extensions forming supports for certain of the moving parts. Upon the extensions 12 is secured, by screws 14 (Fig. stationary bed-plate 15 formed with longitudinal equally spaced grooves 16 in its upper surface, and with ribs or tongues 16" on its lower surface (Fig. 7 that are in. vertical alinement with the rails 4 of the underlying bed-block 3.

Between the bed-block 3 and the bed-plate 15 is located a pusher plate 17 formed on its upper and lower surfaces with grooves or channels engaged by the tongues 16 of the upper bed-plate 15 and the rails-4 of the lower bed-block 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 It is here noted that the rails 4 of the lower bed-block 3 are extended forwardly between the two crimping rolls, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, lying in the annular grooves 9 of the lowerr-oll, as shown in Fig. 6, and forming a support for the paper strips immediately in advance of the r0lls. Extending between and supported upon the journal bearin frames 5, directly above the upper roll 6, 1s a cross-bar 18, to the under side of which are secured, on the rear side of the roll 6, depending guard strips 19, which fitwithin the annular channels 8 and, as best shown in Fig. 3, are formed with lower horizontal foot portions 20 extending rearwardly within said channels 8 to about the vertical plane of the axes of the two rolls. The purpose of the guide strips 4 and 20 extending between the two rolls is to guide and confine the paper strips as they pass between the rolls and maintain them in a straight forward ath of travel, preventing them from following the periphery of either roll.

Lying upon the upper bed-plate 15 is a transversely extending feed-bar 21 formed with rearwardly extending arms 22 (Fig. 2) that-are secured by screws 23 (Fig. 13), through spacing blocks 24, to the pusher plate 17, so that the two feed members 21 and. 17 operate simultaneously and in the same directions above and below the stationary bed-plate 15.

These two feed-devices 21 and 17 are reciprocated by the following mechanism. Referring to Fig. 1, on the forward side of the machine frame is mounted an electric motor 25 which drives, through a. pinion 26 and gear 27, a countershaft 28, on which latter is a belt pulley 29 that drives, through a belt 30, a large pulley 31 (Fig. 6) that is keyed on the spindle of the upper feed roller 6; the feed rollers 6 and 7 being intergearecl for simultaneous rotation in opposite directions by spur-gears 32 and 33 on their re spective spindles. On the outer disk face of the pulley 31 is an irregular cam groove 34; and fast on the spindle of the upper feed roller 6 at the opposite side of the machine is a disk 35 containing a cam groove 36 that is a mate of the cam groove 34. Mounted in posts 37 F ig. 6), superposed on the journal frames 5,.is a shaft 38, the opposite ends of which overhang the pulley 31 and the cam disk 35. Suspended from the ends of the shaft 38 are arms 39, having mounted, on their inner side, rollers 40 lying within the cam grooves or channels 34 and 36. Adjustably and pivotally connected to the lower end of each arm 39 is a pitman 4-1, the outer end of which is mounted on a. pivot-stud 42 (Fig. 13) carried by a coupling block 43, this latter'having a transverse slot to receive a laterally extending tenon 44 on the pusher-plate 17, the block 43 being detachably secured on the ten-on 44 by clamp screws 44 (Fig.14). The adjustable connection of the arm 39 and itman 41 cpmprises, as shown in detail in ig. 15, a block 45 slidably mounted in a slot 46 in the lower end of the arm 39 and adjustable lengthwise of said'slot by a rotatable screw- 47; the block 45 carrying a pivot stud 48 on which the upper end of the pitman 41 is mounted and being secured in adjusted position by a binding screw 49; the adjusting screw 47 being locked against accidental turning by a binding screw50. The purpose of this adjustment is to increase or decrease the extent of rearward or outward travel of the feed-bar 21 and the pusher-plate 17 accordingly as wide or narrow paper strips its forward edgewise travel into the field of operation of the crimping rolls under the push of the lower pusher-plate 17, I have devised two controlling devices both designed to maintain a perfectly flat position of the strip during its travel into the nip of the crimping rolls. One of these devices comprises a rock-bar or shaft 51 journalcd above and transversely of the stationary rails 4, in advance of the crimping rolls and provided with rearwardly extending fingers 52 adapted to oscillate between an upwardly inclined position, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, wherein they permit the paper strip indicated at 'S to be pushed off the forward edge of the stationary bed-plate 15 down onto the supports 4, and a horizontal position, shown in Fig. 3, wherein they have pressed down and overlie the strip thus deposited and prevent it from buckling upward. The oscillating movements of this strip-controlling device are effected by means of an arm 53 fast on one end of the shaft 51, a spring 54 fastened at 55 to said arm (Figs. 11 and 12) and at its other end to the machine frame, and an arc-shaped cam 56 that is secured to the inner side of the cam disk 35. The arm 53 stands at such an angle to the fingers 52, that the pull of the spring 54normally maintains the fingers 52 in the idle position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 12. Once during each revolution of the cam disk 35, the advance end of the cam 56 strikes the outer end of the arm 53 and rocks the said arm from the position shown in Fig. 12 to that shown in Fig. 11, holding it in such position during the entire period of engagement. This swings the fingers 52 down to the hori-. zontal position, shown in Fig. 3 and by dotted lines in Fig; 11, at which time a paper strip is about to be pushed forwardly into the nip of thecrimping rolls. The in stant the cam 56 passes off the end of the arm 53, the spring 54 instantly returns the parts to the position shown in Fig. 12.

To still further guard against buckling or skewing of the strips between this oscillating guard and the crimping rolls, 1pmvide a further guard in the form of light gravity fingers 57 that are loosely suspended from a transverse rod'58 located above the rod or shaft 51 andlying just forwardly of the latter, the lower ends of said fingers being curved upwardly and resting lightly on the rails 4. As the strip is advanced edgewise, it is forced beneath these fingers which act to hold it down until it comes fully into the nip of the crimping segments of the crimping rolls.

On the opposite or rear side of the crimping rolls is a receiver in which the plaited strips are finally compressed or compacted by the continued advance movement of the pusher-plate 17 beyond the crimping rolls, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5 and are then subjected to the action of heat for a sufficient period of time to set them in their plaited and compacted condition, and from which the finished strips are discharged by their gravity into an underlying receivingpan. This receiver, as to its structural de tails, is best shown in the progressive views Figs. 3-to 5 inclusive, and comprises the following parts designates a stationary plate extending transversely of the machine frame on the rear side of the crimping rolls and lying in the horizontal plane of the stationary bedplate 15. As best shown in Fig. 5 on the under surface of the plate 59, a short distance inwardly from the edge thereof which lies adjacent to the crimping rolls is formed a narrow vertical shoulder 60, which acts as a detent to catch and hold each strip as it is finally compacted against the back wall of the receiver or the preceding strip or strips. In the upper surface of the plate 59 are mounted a pair of electricheating pads 61 supplied with current from any suitable source controlled by switches 62 mounted on the crossbar 18 on which latter is also mounted a motor switch 61 and an attachment coupling member 61 The plate 59 constitutes the top wall of the'oven; and below, but spaced therefrom, is aslidingplate 63, on the forward or outer edge of which latter is an upstanding bracket 64 carrying a lug 65 to which is pivoted a connecting rod 66. The outer end of the connecting rod 66 is pivoted to the upper end of an arm 67 fast on a rock-shaft 68, this latter being journaled in and betweena pair of depending brackets 69 at the front end of the machine, and carrying a downwardly inclined arm 70 '(Fig. 1.). Suspended from the lower end of arm 70 is a lengthwise adjustable link 71 that is pivoted at its lower end to a pedal-lever 72 fulcrumed at 73 on one of the side frame members, and carrying at its lower end a pedal 74 adapted to be depressed by the foot of the operative against the pull of a tension spring Obviously, the depression of the pedal 74 acts through the connections described. to retract the sliding-plate 63 which forms the bottom wall of the oven, the return movementof said plate being effected by the spring 75.

Slidably mounted between the upper and lower oven plates 59 and 63 is a transverse strip or narrow plate 7 6 that forms a movable back wall of the oven. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the plate 76 is centrally slotted to straddle the attachment bracket 64, and at its outer end is formed with lateral lugs 77, to which are attached straps or cords 78 that extend over guide pulleys 79, depending from the latter in the form of loops that embrace and support the end pintles of a heavy roller weight 80. The action of this weight obviously is to draw the plate 76 inwardly toward the crimping rolls. This action is controlled by a pawland-rack mechanism, comprising a pair of horiontal rack-bars 81 pivoted at their inner ends to the frame and connected'at their outer ends for simultaneous movement by a cross-bar 82. These rack-bars have teeth on their lower edges, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and they rest upon vertically extended pawls 83 mounted on the lugs 77 of the plate 76. The pull of the weight is thus normally resisted by the pawls 83 in engagement with the rack-bars 81. As each successive strip is forced into the oven, the movable plate '76, forming the back wall of the oven, is pushed outwardly to the extent of the thickness of one strip, the pawls 83 sliding back into engagemeht with the next tooth of the ra ck-bars, and holding the plate in its new position. Secured to and'between the side members of the frame beneath the oven, is a downwardly inclined chute 8e terminating at its lower end in a pan 85 to receive the strips as they are, discharged by the retraction of the bottom wall of the" oven.

In the operation of the machine, the operative, seated behind the fixed bed-plate 15, places the paper strips successivelyou the latter directly in front of the reciprocating feed-bar 21, as shown in Fig. 3, wherein said feed-bar is fully retracted. As the feedbar 21 advances, the fingers 52 are held in the upwardly inclined position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 12 by the spring 54:, until the strip has been pushed off the bed-plate 15, whence it falls onto the underlying pusherplate 17 as shown in Fig. 5. Immediately thereafter the rock shaft 51 is oscillated by the cam 56, thereby lowering the fingers 52 to the horiontal position directly overlying the strip, as shown in Figs. 3 and 11, positively forcing the strip down and holding it down. The first strip is now ready to be advanced between the crimping rolls, and simultaneously the next strip is deposited on the bed-plate 15 directly in front of the feed-bar '21,, as shown in Fig. 3. As the feed-bar 21 and pusher-plate 17 are then advanced, the first strip, sliding beneath the gravity fingers 57, enters the nip of the crimping rolls, as shown in Fig. 4, by which the strip is'crimped or plaited, taking the form illustrated in Fig. 5. During the passage of thestrip between the toothed seg= ments of the crimping rolls, there is a pause in the forward travel of the pusher-plate 17 but as soon as the toothed segments have separated sufficiently to be out of the ath of the pusher-platel'i, the latter resu es its advance movement, entering the mouth of the oven, as shown in Fig. 5*, for which purpose the forward portion of the pusher-plate is reduced in thickness, as shown, and shoves the crimped strip on through the mouth of the oven, there being no pressure ,upon the strip while it is passing through the mouth of the oven 'except enough to overcome its weight and friction until after it passes shoulder 60. The strip is then tightly compacted between the back wall of the oven (or the strip previously received in the oven) and the face of the pusher 17, by which its width is increased so that .it is caught by its upper edge behind the shoulder 60 and held by the latter, this position of the parts being illustrated in Fig. 5.

During the crimping or plaiting ofthe strip, the upper and lower guides 20 and 4 serve to strip the strip from the teeth of the crimping rolls and guide it in a straight forward direction into the mouth of the oven. While the strips are in the oven, they are held in the tightly folded 'or compacted condition indicated Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, andare subjected to heat for a sufiicient length of time to set the folds or plaits. After a considerable number of strips have been received in the oven and baked, as aforesaid, the operative depresses the pedal .74, fully retracting the bottom plate 63 of the oven and allowing the entire set of strips to fall into the underlying chute and re-- ceiving-pan, whence they are manually removed. The upper end of the bracket 64 is formed with a cam surface 64 which, as the bottom plate of the oven is fully retracted, comes into lifting engagement with a cooperating cam surface 82' on the under side of the cross-bar 82 which connects the rackbars 81, thereby lifting the latter, and permitting the weight 80 to instantly return the sliding plate '76,. which forms the back wall of the oven to fully retracted position wherein it abuts against the shoulder 60 of the top wall.

I am aware that it is broadly old and known in this art to effect the plaiting of paper strips or sheets by mechanical means including areciprocating pusher or feedbar, a pair of crimping rolls between which the strip is advanced by said pushenbar, and a heated surface against which each strip is compressed and held for an instant. I have found in practice, however, that if the plaited strips are to retain a snugly compressed form, it is essential that they be held in such form While subjected to the action of'heat for a considerable period of time in order that the folds may become fully set. I am also aware that it has heretofore been proposed to force the'crimped strips successively into longitudinal peripheral pockets in a rotating heating drum, but in such a construction, it is practically impossible to force the strips into such pockets and then confine themin the latter in snugly folded or compacted form while they are being set. In my present construction, the crimped and folded strips are compacted tightly side by side against each other so that they are held in tightly folded condition during the heating or baking. I may here'state that for the manufacture of transversely perforated plaited strips which are subdivided by tearing operations into short sections and manually inserted into the holes of a sales board, it is unimportant that the finished strips may be loosely folded or plaited but for the manufacture of imperforate strips which are designed to be severed by a machine cutting operation and then forced into the holes of a sales board, for example, in the manner and by the means disclosed in my Letters Patent No. 1,339,595, hereinabove referred to, it is a matter of prime importance that the strips be folded and compacted into an approximately solid crosssectional form or condition, such as is illustrated at S in Fig. 17

While I have herein illustrated and described in detail the structural features and mechanical elements of a machine which I have found in practice to operate successfully, it will be understood that the operative principles involved may be embodied in more or less modified mechanical forms without involving any departure from the substance of the invention, or sacrificingHany of the advantages inhering therein. ence, I reserve all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, and mechanism for feeding paper strips between said rolls comprising a support extending between said rolls, a reciprocating pusher on said support, a stationary bed-plate above said pusher, and a reciprocating feed-bar mounted on said bedplate.

2. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a pain of crimping rolls, a support for paper strips extending between said rolls, a reciprocating pusher on said support having a tongue and 'groove fit on the latter, a stationary bedplate above said pusher, and a reciprocating feed-bar on said bed-plate having a tongue and groove fit on the latter.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of'a pair of crimping rolls, a stationary bed-plate located in front of said rolls, a feed-bar lying across said bed-plate, a support for paper strips in front of said bed-plate and extending between said rolls, a pusher under-lying said bedplate- 'and connected to said feedbar, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said feed-bar and pusher.

4;. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a stationary bed-plate located in front of said rolls, a feed-bar lying across said bed-plate and having a tongue and groove fit on the latter, a support for paper strips in front of said bed-plate and extending between said rolls, and a pusher underlying said bed-plate and having a tongue and groove fit with the latter and also with said support, means rigidly connecting said feed-bar and pusher, and means for simultaneously reciprocating said feedbar and pusher lengthwise of said bed-plate.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimp ing rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a reciprocating pusher operating to push said strips between said rolls, and means for holding said strips down on said support as they are pushed between said rolls.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a re ciprocating pusher operating to push said strips between said rolls, and a series of gravity fingers pivotally suspended above said support, and operating to hold said strips fiat on said support as they are pushed between said rolls.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a stationary bed-plate in rear of and slightly above the plane of said support, a reciprocatin feed.- bar overlying said bed-plate and operating to feed paper strips from the latter onto said support, and means overlying said support for forcing the paper strips down onto the latter as they pass off the forward edge of said bed-plate.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a stationary bed-plate in rear of and slightly above the plane of said support, a reciprocating feedbar overlying said bed-plate and operating to feed paper strips from the latter onto said support, and an oscillating member journaled above and transversely of said .support and operating to force the paper strips down onto the latter as they pass 0d the forward edge of said bed-plate.

9. In a machine of the character described.

the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a. support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a stationary bed-plate in rear of and slightly above the plane of said support, a reciprocating feedbar overlying said bed-plate and operating to feed paper strips from. the latter onto said support, a rock-shaft journaled above and transversely of said support, laterally extending fingers on said rock shaft, and means for oscillating said rock-shaft whereby said fingers are first raised to admit a paper strip beneath them and are then lowered to force said strip down onto said-suport.

10, In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a stationary bed-plate in rear of and slightly above the plane of said support, a reciprocating feed bar overlying said bed-plate and operating to feed said paper strips from the latter onto said support, means overlying said support for forcing the paper strips down onto the latter as they pass off the forward edge of said bed-plate, a reciprocating pusher onsaid support and beneath said bed-plate for forcing the strips between said crimping rolls, and means for holding the strips down on said support as they are pushed between said rolls.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a support-for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, a stationary bedplate in rear of and slightly above the plane.

of'said support, a reciprocating feed-bar overlying said bed-plate and operating to feed said paper strips from the latter onto said support, an oscillating member transvcrsely overlying said support and operating to force the paper strips down onto the latter as they pass off the forward edge of said bed-plate, a reciprocating pusher on said support and beneath said bed-plate for fore ing the strips between said crimping rolls, and a series of gravity fingers pivotally suspended above said support and operating to hold said strips fiat on said support as they are pushed between said rolls.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of crimping rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, means for feeding said paper strips onto said support, a rock-shaft journaled'transversely of and above said support, laterally extending fingers on said rock-shaft adapted to press the paper strips down onto said support, an arm on vsaid rock-shaft, a spring acting to turn said rock-shaft in a direction to elevate s'aid fingers for the passage of the'paper strips therebeneath, and a cam operating to swing said arm in a direction to lower said fingers whereby the latter press and hold the paper strips down on said support.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of upper and lower crimping rolls, a support for paper strips infront of and extending between said rolls, means for feeding said paper strips onto said support, a rock-shaft journaled transversely of and above said support, laterally extending fingers on said rock-shaft adapted to press the paper strips down onto said support, an arm on one end of said rock-shaft, a spring acting to turn said rock-shaft in a direction to elevate said fingers for the passage of the paper strips therebeneath, a disk fast on the spindle of one of said crimping rolls, and a cam on said disk operating at each revolution of the latter to engage with and swing said arm in a direction to lower said fingers whereby the latter press and hold. the paper strips down on said support.

14:. In a machine of the character described, the combination of upper and lower crimping rolls, a support for paper strips in front of and extending between said rolls, means for feeding said paper strips onto said support, means for pushing said paper strips along said support bet-ween said rolls, a horizontal rod mounted in. front of said upper roll, and a series of depending gravity fingers hinged on said rod and at their lower end resting on said support, said fingers serving to hold flat the paper strips as the latter are pushed between said rolls.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination. with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of a receiverin rear of said rolls adapted to hold a plurality of crimped strips disposed side by side in closely compacted. condition.

16. In a machine of the character desc ribed,the combination with a pair or crimping rolls,,. and means for feeding paper sti ips between said rolls, of a receiver in rear of said. rolls adapted to hold a plurality of crimped strips disposed, side by side in closely compacted condition, and means for heating said receiver.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having an open receiving mouth and a rearwardly yieldable rear Wall.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said ox'en having an open receivini' mouth and a sliding rear wall, and means normally urging said rear wall toward the mouth of said oven.

19. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having an open receiving mouth and a sliding rear wall. means normally urging said rear wall toward the mouth of said oven, and detent mechanism for holding said rear wall against inward movement as it is intermittently forced outwardly.

20. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having an open receiving mouth and a sliding rear wall, means normally urging said rear wall toward the mouth of said oven, pawl and ratchet mechanism for holding said rear wall in successive retracted positions, and manually operated means for releasing said pawl and ratchet mechanism and permitting said rear wall to slide inwardly.

2].. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear ofsaid rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having an open receiving mouth and a sliding rear wall, a weight nor mally urging said rear wall toward the mo'uth of said oven, pawls carried by said rear Wall, pivoted ratchet bars cooperating with said pawls to hold said rear wall in successive retracted positions against the urgings of said weight, and manually operated means for lifting said ratchet bars out of engagement with said pawls to thereby permit said rear wall to slide inwardly.

22. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having a retractable bottom wall permitting a gravity discharge of the strips therefrom.

23. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having a stationary top wall formed with a vertical detent shoulder, and an outwardly yieldable rear wall. and means normally urging said rear wall inwardly whereby the strips in said oven are compressed between said rear wall and said shoulder.

24:. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips. said oven having an outwardly yieldable rear wall and a retractable bottom wall :ermitting a gravity discharge of the strips therefrom.

25. In a. machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having a stationary top wall formed with a vertical detent shoulder, and an outwardly yieldable rear wall, an electric heater in said top wall, means normally urging said rear wall inwardly where: by the strips in said oven are compressed between said rear wall and said shoulder, and detent mechanism for holding said rear wall in successive outwardly forced positions.

26. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between sad rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having a stationary top wall formed with a vertical detent shoulder, an outwardly yieldable rear wall, and a retractable bottom wall, an electric heater in said top wall. means normally urging said rear wall inwardly whereby the strips in said oven are compressed between said rear wall and said shoulder, and detent mechanism for holding said rear wall in successive outwardly forced positions.

27. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls, of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having a stationary top wall formed with a vertical detent shoulder, an outwardly yieldable rear wall, and a slidable bottom wall, an electric heater in said top wall, means normally urging said rear wall inwardly whereby the strips in said oven are compressed between said rear wall and said shoulder, detent mechanism for holding said rear wall in successive outwardly forced positions, and manually operable means for retracting said bottom wall whereby said strips are discharged by g1 avity.

28. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of crimping rolls, and means for feeding paper strips between said rolls. of an oven in rear of said rolls to receive and set the crimped strips, said oven having a retractable bottom wall to permit the gravity discharge of the strips therefrom, and a receiving pan beneath said oven.

ary oven adapted to receive and hold a plurality of folded strips and having a receiving mouth located in rear ofsaid rolls, upper and lower guide strips fitted to the grooves of said upper and lower rolls, respectively and extending between the latter and the mouth of said oven, and a reciprocating pusher operating on its inward strokeito travel between said guides and into 'the mouth of said oven whereby to force and compact the crimped strips within the latter.

CHARLES A. BREVER. 

